For the money, Ruger is hard to beat. What do you want to use it for? That is the first question that needs to be answered for us to formulate a better recommendation.
I learned how to shoot a rifle today. It was a .22 Ruger.
It’s a quality pistol for it’s price. Ruger made a serious mistake with the magazine safety however. They are routinely removed (a very simple thing to do) by people who own them. My own 345 had the magazine safety actually break. I suspect that it may have been due to my dry-firing it without a magazine in the gun (Ruger’s manual stipulates that there should always be one in the gun for dry-firing). Aside from that it’s a fine weapon. Its profile is approximately that of a Commander pattern, and it’s ergonomics are quite good in my opinion.
I’ve had a P-89, P-90 and a P-95. Each one fired any type of ammunition (ball, hollowpoint, semiwad, you name it) flawlessly. I’ve never had autoloaders that fire as reliably as my Ruger centerfire pistols. If you are going to trust your life to an autoloader Ruger is a good choice. Just go and try several and pick the one with the best trigger.
Yet another review: http://www.madogre.com/Interviews/Ruger_P345.htm
Whatever you get, put at least a few hundred rounds through it to break it in and get a feel for it. Find out how it handles with various brands/types of ammo and how it fits your hand.
They are VERY high quality and can be had for the same or less money than the Ruger.
When I began carrying I started with a Colt Officer's Model, which was fine for size, but I had a weird feeling about carrying it cocked and locked. I then tried an XD45 Compact, which is a great gun, but a bit big to conceal in warm weather/light clothing. Ended up with a Glock 27 in .40cal. Smaller than the other two guns and easy to conceal.
Most people I talk to start out with large handguns and then end up going smaller for ease of carry, even if they go down a caliber.
Born and Bred in New Hampshire Live free or die! Ruger lives in N.H. Go for it!
Ping of interest.
Mike, I’ve been selling guns for the past 13 years. The P345 is a good pistol. It’s reliable, sturdy, and inexpensive. That said, I consider it a poor choice for carry. Although any carry gun must be reliable and accurate (the Ruger is both) it must also be made in a size that makes it easy for the owner to carry it. The P345 is bulky. Carrying it daily requires choices of clothing and often expenses to have a wardrobe that can conceal it.
I’d suggest either a Glock or Smith and Wesson M&P in .40 caliber. You’ll get excellent performance fron the cartridge and the guns are easier to carry and conceal. They also hold more rounds, and more is better.
Although you might not care for the trigger systems on those pistols, the fact that you are asking demonstrates that you are willing to spend some time and keep an open mind regarding your choice for carry. It is fairly easy to master the safe and proper operation of these guns, and they are similar in cost to the one that interests you. The Glock also has the advantage of being a best seller in this country. Many people buy one and fire 50 rounds through it, put it away, and sell it when they have other priorities. You can get them in near perfect condition cheap-cheap.
MPO
I love my 345, but will be trading it in soon for an XD45 compact for carry.
I would, even still, offer a strong endorsement for the 345, it is a fine firearm.
However if you want deep cover including summertime:You may want to consider a S&W 642 j frame five rounds will shoot +p if needed
15 oz loaded also comes with crimson trace laser.
I really wish they did fit as I would like an inexpensive durable pistol. The Browning Hi-Power and all the CZ and CZ clones are just about a perfect fit for me and from what others say, just about anyone. Even the M1911 feels good in my hand tho it doesn't look like it should.
I am sure it will do fine. Most guns will. I’m not Ruger fan. They all seem either bulkier than necessary or less refined than necessary. Think, heavy trigger pull.
I would get a Sig P220 Compact. It will cost you more, but what is your life worth?
Forgot to add that most firearms discussions here become popularity contest. We all have our favorites and thus biased, we aren’t likely to recommend something different. Ruger is one of my least favorite arms, so YMMV with me and my bias.
The 1911 nuts won’t recommend anything else. Nor the Sig fanatics or Beretta junkies.
I’m sure that Ruger will work just fine. Under stress, the heavy trigger pull won’t matter at all. I think there are better choices, but you have your reasons for wanting it.
The worst thing about the Ruger is, you probably can’t rent it. All of the popular handguns can be rented around most larger towns. I swear by renting or borrowing handguns before purchasing. All too often people like the looks of a gun, but how it fits your grip, the way it operates, and how it shoots for you is way more important. You will never answer those questions aiming at the ceiling in a shop. You have to shoot the thing.
IMHO, renting is the ONLY way to go. If I were looking to buy a carry gun, I would rent various ones and buy the one I liked the best at the range, and I would pass on any I could not rent or try out. Two things anymore I hate to buy without renting first are, guns and cars.
I like my Kimber 45.
It’s just built better.
I have 5 different Rugers and love them all.
My own carry piece is a P345. It’s a fine pistol.
